Rajvir Dahiya, PhD

Research Interests

DNA Methylation in Prostate Cancer

Under this project Dahiya will test the hypothesis that methylation of CpG islands of promoter regions of various tumor suppressor genes can provide mechanisms of age and race-related prostate cancer. Based on his laboratory's recent publications, CpG methylation can inactivate tumor suppressor genes. Dahiya will test whether DNA methylation has a role in selectively inactivating tumor suppressor gene more effectively in African-Americans as compared to Asians and Caucasians.

Microsatellite Instability and Mismatch Repair Genes in Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Cancer

Dahiya's laboratory is testing the hypothesis that MSI and mismatch repair genes can induce malignant transformation of the prostate, kidney and bladder cancer. To test this hypothesis, they are investigating MSI on various loci of some chromosomes. They are further investigating whether mismatch repair genes (hMLH1, hMSH2, hMSH3, hMSH6) are responsible for MSI in various carcinomas.

Steroid Receptors and their Function in Prostate Cancer

Dahiya is testing the hypothesis that inactivation of steroid receptor (ER, AR and PR) genes can modulate prostate cancer initiation and progression. To test this hypothesis, he will analyze the status and function of steroid receptor genes in prostate cancer.